The key word throughout this review has been "surprising." Pearl Harbor Trilogy: 1941 - Red Sun Rising is way better than it has any reason to be. Legendo, the developer, is definitely on the right track with this one. If any of this sounds interesting to you, this game can be purchased for only $7 on WiiWare, and I guarantee you'll have a good time with it.

An immensely rewarding challenge, well implemented controls and a fair amount of bang for your buck make Pearl Harbor Trilogy – 1941: Red Sun Rising one of the better Wii aerial combat games, and not just on WiiWare.

Good controls and visuals are the bright sides for Pearl Harbor Trilogy: 1941 - Red Sun Rising. Given the fact of the small price and the lack of competitors on Wii, this game can be interesting for lovers of the aerial combat shooters, but its flaws in terms of gameplay and level design can be very restraining also for the most firm virtual pilot.

A problem I do have (and where I'll agree with Charles) is in the game's difficulty level -- this one's a bit too tough to get into, with an opening mission that's sure to send you to the Game Over screen more than once before you figure out how to fly through to success.

Ultimately, whether or not Red Sun Rising succeeds or fails is a question of how much the player is enticed by either its historical setting or relatively niche genre. Awkward controls and a thunderous difficulty may threaten to spoil what is a WiiWare title of unrivalled depth and value, yet if you're ready to battle unforgiving AI, you'll find plenty of bang for your buck.

If you want the full flight/action WWII experience on the Wii then pick up a copy of Blazing Angels: Pearl Harbor. However if you've got a tenner to spare or some Wii Points to use up – and from the perspective of value for money – this is well worth a look.

Pearl Harbor Trilogy - 1941: Red Sun Rising is a mixed-bag: it has variety, frantic action and solid graphics, but it's flawed by poor difficulty balance. Still a quite funny arcade, but not a must-buy.

All in all this game is great value for a Wiiware game, with 2 campaigns to play, several planes to fly and a couple of extra game modes.All in all this game is great value for a Wiiware game, with 2 campaigns to play, several planes to fly and a couple of extra game modes. Considering the limitations of the service, the graphical representation is surprisingly good. There's definitely a learning curve as far as the controls go, specifically the nunchuck's motion capabilities used to steer, but once you get used to it they work wonderfully. On the other hand the difficulty curve oddly seems to go in a downwards manner, in which the later levels of the campaign are surprisingly easy compared to the challenging first levels. A multiplayer mode however is sadly missed.…Full Review »

So I remember my early experience with war flight simulators. The exact game escapes me but the controller is pretty typical. Big bulky flightSo I remember my early experience with war flight simulators. The exact game escapes me but the controller is pretty typical. Big bulky flight stick with a million buttons and triggers and the suction cups on the bottom. First person point of view. Nothing but a pretty blank blue sky. A radar system I didnâ…Full Review »

This is the best action game available on WiiWare and one of the best flight games on the Wii. The controls are perfect and really helps addThis is the best action game available on WiiWare and one of the best flight games on the Wii. The controls are perfect and really helps add to the fun, and the aerial battles are very impressive with a large number of opponent enemy aircraft and friendly wingmen combating each other. The first mission in the game is Pearl Harbor which is quite difficult but very satisfactory, then again I guess that is what one would expect from a historical game such as this. For only 7 bucks this is a no-brainer as it easily trumps many Wii retail games both in terms of fun and quality.…Full Review »